Satsangs

Satsang is a compound Sanskrit word that means “keeping the company of the Self.” The Self, Awareness, is the true nature of everyone and one keeps company with it by continually meditating on it in many ways. One of the most effective methods involves discussing non-dual teachings with someone who has realized his or her identity as the Self, to get clarity with reference to Self inquiry. The satsangs posted here are the questions of many people around the world who are interested in enlightenment and find that Vedanta is their preferred means of Self knowledge. Since I am a teacher of Vedanta, a time tested means of self inquiry, I am qualified to reply to these questions.~James Swartz

ShiningWorld Reader

Stewart: Hi, James. Firstly, thank you for all you have given me the revelation
of satchitananda.

It
has been about a year since things clicked into place and I don’t
think I have had a bad day during that period. Not every moment is
brimming over with bliss and there is intermittent physical pain I
could do without, but that does not seem important. Even when vasanas
are doing their thing it’s not really significant; they don’t
have the same coercive quality they once had and the knowledge kicks
in virtually automatically. There is a natural, quiet joy that seems
to assert itself without any trigger. Most of the time there is no
need to affirm my self-identity because being the self is just a
fact, just as I don’t have to remind myself that grass is green; it
just is.

Doubts
briefly arise sometimes but they are just objects and I treat them
accordingly. Nothing can touch fullness and that’s a fact – and a
nice paradox.

There
is a fear I experience sometimes as a kind of intermittent social
anxiety/shyness vasana
which is deep-rooted from childhood, but I don’t feel I somehow
have to try to extirpate it. To a good degree, it is a fear of being
bored by others. I know the knowledge will gradually deal with it,
and anyway I am genuinely happy being a relative introvert; I don’t
have to listen to one-dimensional people or go into trivial chit-chat
mode. The self can entertain itself as itself, so to speak. There is
an anecdote about the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw: when he
was at some horrible cocktail party and the hostess asked him if he
was enjoying himself, he said, “That’s the only thing I’m
enjoying.”

Liberation
makes life beautifully simple and pleasantly ridiculous. The quality
of everyday life/experience improves exponentially, even when working
in a mad, bad bureaucracy where narcissism, self-aggrandizement and
institutionalised shafting are the norm. (End of mini rant.)

One
thing that really shows the experiential power of self-knowledge is
the way it killed the existential ache, and killed it comprehensively
and instantly. I used to have a deeply-entrenched and aggressive
vasana
which expressed itself everyday as a bitter, oppressive and detailed
awareness of the futility of life. It appears to have been
obliterated in an instant about a year ago, and the most I ever feel
is a mere whisper of it for a few seconds once in a blue moon and
then it seems funny and I laugh. Actually, I laugh a lot. I like
watching the mad irony of things and people – and of myself when
all the hang-ups queue up and come out to play. It doesn’t matter
that it doesn’t matter.

I hope
your health stays good and you and your wife have many beautiful
years together.

~ Best
wishes, Stewart

James: Hi, Stewart. A good reply to a good year is good for you! Your
beautifully written email contains news that justifies my endless
slog in the salt mines of enlightenment. It is a tribute to the grand
tradition of Vedanta and your faith and perseverance that you have
gained the fruit of your inquiry. I have entitled it The
Experiential Power of Self-Knowlege and I am
sure it will provide hope and guidance to those who read the satsangs
on the website. What use is self-knowledge unless it lifts us up and
provides a bright and bodiless view of our small selves flailing
about in Isvara’s
intelligently designed and wondrously beautiful world of objects.

~
Much love, James

Contacting Shining World

For years I have happily and diligently responded to communications on the topic of Self realization. Since the publication of my book, “How to Attain Enlightenment”— currently in its third printing —and the success of this website, the volume of emails has increased considerably. Unfortunately, owing to a busy schedule of teaching and writing, I am no longer able to answer all the emails I receive in a timely fashion. However, my wife, who is also a teacher, and several well-qualified teachers we have endorsed are available to answer emails on my behalf. I encourage you to send them your questions.
— James SwartzContact Us